Chatterjee
Project 1
Augmented Reality
Introduction
This project is about exploring Augmented Reality. The purpose of this project is to explore what it might look like to pick up souvenirs in a world where augmented reality is everywhere. In this project you will see an example of two souvenirs, one of the Pyramids at Giza, Egypt and another of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France.
This project was developed with the Unity Engine using an augmented reality library called Vuforia. Vuforia detects what is being displayed on the camera and determines what to overlay. For this project you will need to create two distinct physical cubes (link). By displaying this physical cube to the camera you will be able to see things specific to an attraction.
An additional aspect of this project is to explore what it might look like if we used augmented reality to look at stickers people have on laptops. You will need to print an image of an astronaut (link). In this project you will see a nature scene with an animated bear drinking water from a river with an animated bird chirping from a branch above.
Build From Source
- Links -
Source code: GitHub
Vuforia SDK: Link
Unity Hub: Link
Unity Editor: Link
- Versions Used During Development -
Vuforia SDK: 10.9.3
Unity Hub: 3.3.0
Unity Editor: 2021.3.6f1
- Recommended Versions -
Vuforia SDK: 10.9.3 or Later
Unity Hub: 3.3.0 or Later
Unity Editor: 2021.3.6f1 or Later
1. Install Unity
a. Install Unity Hub from the link above
b. Use the Unity Editor link above to navigate to a valid editor version and select download with Unity Hub
c. When the modules screen shows up select Android if you would like to build to an Android device and iOS if you would like to build to an iOS device (If building for iOS make sure Mac is available for builds)
d. Wait until the install process is complete!
2. Configure Directory
a. Download code from link above
b. Put folder in desired directory
c. Extract folder if zipped
3. Create Vuforia Account
a. Create a Vuforia account from the link above
4. Configure Vuforia
a. Create a Unity account (Link)
b. Type in Vuforia in the Search and add it to my assets
5. Open Project
a. Open Unity Hub and add root project directory
b. If a Package Error occurs select continue
c. If a prompt to enter safe mode occurs, select yes
d. Open /Packages/manifest.json and remove the whole line containing "com.ptc.vuforia.engine" and save
e. If a prompt appears to link your Unity project select close
f. In the Unity navigation bar select window->package manager
g. In the package manager window navigation bar select packages->my assets
h. In the search type Vuforia and import the entire Vuforia package
- If a prompt appears to Install/Upgrade select skip!
i. Once the package is imported you will get a prompt asking to update, select yes
6. Configure Project
a. Copy your Vuforia license key or create a new one (Link)
b. Within the Unity Editor double click /Scenes/Project1Scene to open the correct scene
c. Select the ARCamera object in the game object hierarchy
d. Select open Vuforia engine configuration button under the Vuforia behavior script component
e. Paste your Vuforia license key under App License Key
f. Change the max simulations tracked images field to 3
g. Press Play!
Custom Assets
1. Low-Poly Plane (French Flag with Particle Effects)
There is Only One Pilot in History that has Flown Underneath the Eiffel Tower
2. Low-Poly Tree
There are Many Trees Near the Eiffel Tower During the Summer
3. Pyramids
One of the Main Attractions in Giza, Egypt
4. Crates
Commonly Found in Archeological Sites
5. Logs
Myriad of Logs are Found in Forests
6. Branches
Branches Near Waterfalls are a Very Common Sight
Do You Think Things Like This Would Become Popular in Several Years?
I think things like this would definitely be popular in several years when we have eye wear that shows augmented reality objects like this to always be around us. Something we can look to today that provides a similar function are NFT's. Currently NFT's provide a similar function to people who go to concerts or events and want something to remember them by. Since augmented reality technology is still in its early days it is not common to see people using augment reality on a daily biases. With the advent of Google contact lenses to the Microsoft HoloLens I am confident that augmented reality's prevalence in society will only be growing.
Some small objects I would like to see that would benefit from being enhanced by augmented reality would be like cups and pans while cooking. The possibility of knowing how much time is left for a meal to cook on the stove, or even how full a cup of liquid is without asking a virtual assistant would provide another layer of efficiency. Another object I can see being enhanced by augmented reality would be musical instruments like the violin or piano. An augmented reality device would be able to help people or even children play instruments without the need to read sheet music. An obvious place I can see enhancement by augmented reality is in museums. Museums are where children can go to explore and can enhance their experience using augmented reality. The possibility of learning about the French Revolution from a king Louis XVI or even about electricity from Nicola Tesla.
In a more practical setting it would be very helpful to look at a train stop sign and see the delayed arrival time. Additionally there would be major navigational enhancement with the help of augmented reality. With the ability to see your next turn with a navigational arrow Infront of you. I think this phenomena would be very similar to the introduction of hands free talking. When hands free talking was first introduced people were often mystified why people would be talking to no one until they realized they were talking hands free. I think we would come across a similar experience where people would wonder why someone is gesturing in midair, but then realize they are interacting with augmented reality.
The difficulty with current implementations of augmented reality are that they can often be finnicky and a poor implementation can leave first time users with a bad experience of augmented reality. In order for augmented reality to gain mainstream popularity the gesture/image recognition needs to be improved as well as the form factor needs to shrink in size. A downside to having augmented reality become more prevalent in society is the bombardment of augmented reality advertisement. I expect it to be similar to the early days of the internet where there were very few rules and advertisements were everywhere trying to get users to click on them.
